"Let There Be Light" - A place for conversation with the Rector of St. Paul's Memorial Church, 1700 University Avenue, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

California's Proposition 8: What happened? What's next?

I have not said much about Propositon 8, banning gay marriage, and why it passed in California, given it was trailing in the polls. A number of my friends in California (some upset at the passage, others just puzzled) have been asking me what happened. I think this story in today's Sacramento Bee explains briefly what happened, and what might come next. Several people mentioned in here, including Dennis Mangers and Gale Kaufman, are friends and know what they are talking about.

By Aurelio Rojas | Sacramento Bee

A week after California voters approved Proposition 8 and decreed they wanted to end same-sex marriage in the state, details are emerging of an opposition campaign that was in disarray.

Key staff members – including the campaign manager – were replaced in the final weeks as polls turned dramatically against the No side. Their replacements say they found an effort that was too timid, slow to react, without a radio campaign or a strategy to reach out to African Americans, a group that ultimately supported the measure by more than 2 to 1.

Gay marriage supporters are looking to the courts to overturn the decision. But if another political campaign is waged, said Dennis Mangers, co-chairman of the No on 8 Northern California Committee, "we'll have to do better."

No on 8 campaign manager Steve Smith was shoved aside three weeks before Election Day, after he was slow to counter TV ads in which the measure's supporters claimed that same-sex marriage would be promoted in schools if the measure failed.

Two Sacramento political consultants – Joe Rodota, a Republican, and Gale Kaufman, a Democrat – were brought in by the No campaign. Republican consultant Rick Claussen was asked for advice.

The campaign's public relations firm, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, was replaced by Sacramento-based Perry Communications Group.

2 comments:

Great post. I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read some of the wingnut reactions to Prop 8 protests and boycotts--It is kind of hilarious to listen to them get so hysterical, but then it's tragic once you realize how many people actually buy that crap.

Please keep in mind that many people -- including some good friends -- were hurt by the passage of Prop. 8. Not all reactions are "wingnut." Mostly I am seeing and hearing a great deal of sadness and division.

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